BACKGROUND

Addressing the global public health threat that antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance pose to both the international community and the national health security of the country is of paramount importance. In line with the WHO’s One Health Approach in combating AMR, it is important to recognize and assess the public’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices to better understand the gaps, barriers, issues, and patterns present in terms of antibiotic use.

OBJECTIVES

his study aimed to examine the prevalence and practices of antibiotic misuse in the general population by assessing the knowledge and identifying the attitudes and practices of the adult residents in Rodriguez, Rizal, toward antibiotics.

METHODS

An explanatory mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative) research design was utilized in this study. The research participants involved the adult (18-59 years old) residents of Rodriguez, Rizal, who do not possess a medical background. The quantitative phase involved a cross-sectional survey of 384 residents. The survey questionnaire consisted of four sections: knowledge, attitudes, practices toward antibiotics, and socio-demographic profile. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed with Stata version 17. The qualitative phase utilized in-depth semi-structured interviews with nine residents. The data obtained underwent thematic analysis using Microsoft Excel.

RESULTS

The study revealed that most residents were aged 18–29 years (39.06%), male (52.08%), and bachelor’s degree holders (33.85%), with over half earning below ₱10,957 monthly (51.04%). Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) was highly prevalent (68.23%). Over half demonstrated excellent knowledge (51.56%) and attitude (60.94%), while nearly half (48.18%) exhibited moderate practices. Knowledge showed significant associations with sex, age, education, and socioeconomic status, and a positive linear relationship was observed between knowledge, attitude, and practice, though not between knowledge and practice. Qualitative findings revealed seven major themes, such as reliance on non-traditional information sources, limited awareness of antibiotic risks, healthcare and financial barriers, informal access, and non-adherence to prescriptions, which collectively help to better understand the high prevalence of selfmedication observed quantitatively, and provide context for patterns in knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

CONCLUSION

This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices on antibiotic use among residents of Rodriguez, Rizal. Despite high awareness, nearly 70% practiced self-medication, often for viral infections, incomplete regimens, or through informal sources. Interviews revealed that misuse stems from sociocultural norms, economic pressures, and healthcare barriers rather than ignorance. These results underscore the need for stricter antibiotic regulation, improved healthcare access, and culturally sensitive education to promote rational antibiotic use and curb antimicrobial resistance in the Philippines.

World Health Organization ; Prevalence ; One Health ; Methods ; Residence Characteristics

The World Health Organization (WHO) enjoins its member states to harness the potential contribution of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) through its integration into national health systems [1]. Over the years, the demand for TCIM has significantly increased, providing a large part of health care services for the majority of the population, especially those in developing countries. Known as the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997, RA8423 was enacted to improve the quality and delivery of health care services to Filipinos through the development and integration of TCIM into the national health care delivery system; however, several identified issues hinder the attainment of the objectives of the law [2]. In contrast, three countries have shown great progress in establishing systems, standards, and guidelines in improving the quality, safety, and efficacy of traditional products, practices, and practitioners [5-24]. The study used the interpretive/constructivist epistemological perspective first to explore the health policy issues of the TAMA utilizing the policy analysis triangle by Walt and Gilson in 1994 [3]. The themes which emerged from the review were used to identify and describe the models, facilitators, and barriers to the integration of traditional medicine into the national health systems in China, India, and Thailand. Multiple realities, descriptions, and experiences of populations were assessed through meta-synthesis. Finally, in the in-depth interviews, the results of the meta-synthesis were laid out to the participants to draw out policy ideas and strategies and determine which can be applied in the Philippine setting. The themes regulation, financing, country contextualization and stakeholder involvement, medical pluralism, and research were the identified gaps of the TAMAand were used as basis in looking into the models, facilitators, and barriers to the TCIM integration in China, India, and Thailand. The findings from the meta-synthesis guided the in-depth interviews which looked into its application to the Philippine setting.

Integrative Medicine

Men are primarily responsible for the transmission of HIV because of their participation in risk-taking activities such as unsafe sex (i.e. homosexual and/or heterosexual) and drug injections. Men, particularly men having sex with other males, were identified by the DOH-HIV Serologic Surveillance as one of the subpopulations with the highest risk of acquiring HIV. This can be attributed to their behavior towards safe sex, masculinity and their partner. The main objective of this study was to conduct a formative and qualitative assessment on HIV and AIDS among MSM (men who have sex with other males) in the Philippines by identifying the constructions of their sexual identities and their sexual behaviors and risks using the following themes: social mobility; and, health seeking behaviors. Multiple methods have been utilized in this study such as environmental scoping, key informant interviews and focus group discussion sessions in four selected sites in the Philippines. A Delphi technique was also used to solicit opinion of experts in the field of medical, allied medical and social sciences. Results of this study showed that MSM is a vulnerable and susceptible sub-population group to STI, HIV and AIDS due to the complexities of understanding their own sexualities, the gap between their actual and ideal health seeking behaviors and various sexual experiences that brought about the dynamics of sexual proclivities. The study recommends a strong programmatic design for intervention among MSM to become positive agents of change in STI, HIV and AIDS education.

Human ; Male ; Heterosexuality ; Unsafe Sex ; Safe Sex ; Masculinity ; Homosexuality, Male ; Population Groups ; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Philippines ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Sexual And Gender Minorities